Possible cause of head gasket failure...?

[RussellF97]

1995 ZX 1.9D non-turbo

Looking at the gasket and wondering why it failed, I've just noticed this. There is a lip on the edge of the fire ring where it seems to have folded over into the thin coolant channel on top of the block. None of the other rings are like this, nor is the replacement gasket.

Any thoughts anyone...?

Phil

[spider]

The main causes of gasket failures on an XUD are overheating or gasket corrosion.

Overheating, apart from the obvious failed fans can be caused by coolant change neglect too, this then starts to restrict / clog up small passages. The return pipe (with the bleed in it on the thermostat housing, worse on ones with a brass bleed screw and a stub) are more prone to this. Not to mention any corroded coolant will eat the gasket in a short time anyway.

Personally, I'd recommend changing the coolant every two years or so regardless.